Written 21 Aug 2026. Specs from the maker pages linked below. Prices from those stores. I haven't used these.
A faster switch for a first home lab
You don't need a new switch to start a home lab. Plug the old laptop into the router you already have. Buy a faster switch later, if file copies actually crawl.
When that day comes, those extra-fast ports are called 2.5G, a bit more than twice the speed of the old gigabit ports on most routers. They still use the ethernet cables you already have. Most first labs stall because one old switch is the bottleneck. Start here, then worry about 10G later.
What to buy
| Box | What it is | Street, Aug 2026 | Buy if |
|---|---|---|---|
| TP-Link TL-SG108S-M2 | 8× 2.5G, fanless, unmanaged | MSRP about $80. Tom's Hardware saw $50 on a June Prime sale. | You want the default. Silent. No config. |
| TRENDnet TEG-S380 | 8× 2.5G, fanless, NDAA/TAA, lifetime warranty | Maker list $88. Street often $74–80. | You care about warranty paper more than the TP-Link default. |
| TP-Link TL-SG108-M2 | Older 8× 2.5G sibling | Often $130–150. Sometimes not worth it vs the S-M2. | Only if it is actually cheaper than the S-M2 today. |
| TRENDnet TEG-3102WS | 8× 2.5G + 2× 10G SFP+, managed, fanless | About $200 | You need VLANs or a 10G DAC to the NAS. |
Skip
Skip random no-name 5-port toys that only have one fast port and four leftover slow ones. Skip a computer stuck at 100. Check the cable speed first: see the cable speed. Skip a $400 brand-name PoE monster until you have access points that need that budget. Skip a used old gigabit office switch for this job. The whole point is the faster ports.
Sources
TRENDnet TEG-S380 V2 maker page (list $87.99). Tom's Hardware, 26 Jun 2026, TL-SG108S-M2 sale. B&H compare listings for TL-SG108-M2 / TEG-S380. Street ranges move. Check the live price before you click.